Langtang Trekking

Posted on Mar 30, 2014 by Anujghimire under Trekking

Tags: Langtang Trekking, Langtang valley Trekking, Kyanjin, helambu, Gosaikunda

Langtang valley lies north to Kathmandu valley and is closest Himalayan region from Kathmandu. Langtang trekking is one of the most famous trekking routes in Nepall

Getting Start Langtang Trek from Kathmandu

The trip to Langtang valley starts at Syabfrubensi, which is about 170 kilometers from Kathmandu. Bus tickets are easily available from Machchapokhari, Balaju which costs around 500 rupees to the maximum.

How about accommodatios at Syafrubesi?

Syafrubesi has numerous hotels and lodges, accommodation will not be a problem. The hotels are fairly cheaper, costing about 400-500 which depends upon bargaining ability. A normal range for food, Daal Bhat, ranges from 150-250.

Do I need a permit for Langtang region?

No, if you’re a Nepali. But if you’re a foreigner, then you’ll need TIMS card as well as permit to enter the National park.

What about accommodation during the Langtang trekking?

Langtang valley trek is one of the most famous trekking regions and connects various trekking routes, Langtang-Helambu, Langtang-Gosaikunda- Chisapani. Huge numbers of external and internal tourist travel to langtang every year. And again, generally accommodation will not be a problem but the cost goes higher with higher elevation. And another things, if it tourist season and if you’re a group of Nepali people you might want to consider pre booking or other arrangements because it’s extremely hard to get rooms (for groups of more than 15) if there are lots of tourist around. And if you’re travelling in few numbers or if you’re a foreigner then accommodation will not be a problem. The cost of food goes on increasing as well, reaching RS 400-450 NRS for Daal bhaat in Kyanjin Village.

What about electricity and mobile networks?

Electricity is limited to Syafrubesi, after leaving syafrubesi you’ll only get solar based power, which might cost you around 100 rupees for charging your phone for the next two days, electricity will be back in Langtang valley with is mini hydropower project. In case of Mobile network, its highly recommended that you take CMDA (Sky)phone because Ncell and NTC network will be down halfway into the trip.

Do I need to take guides or porters with me during Langtang Trekking ?

The trail isn’t that hard that you’d need a guide with you but solo trekking in Langtang valley is prohibited so it’s better if you don’t travel alone. And regarding porters, it depends on your luggage and the kind of trekking you’re doing and the time duration. For a normal few days trekking you don’t need porters.

Langtang Trekking day by day trekking Plan

Day 1st (Kathmandu to Syafrubesi)

The first day of trekking starts with a bus ride to Syafrubesi, you can also hire jeeps. But you can easily get a bus from Machchapokhari, Balaju. The 170 km long ride takes longer than expected, with security check points in various places and landside affected roads delaying the ride. At the end of a long ride you reach Syafrubesi, where you will rest for the day. There are lots of hotels in Syafrubesi to pick from with affordable prices.

Day 2nd(Syafrubesi-Lama Hotel [around 12 KM ][5-7 Hours of Hiking]

The second day of the trekking starts with actual walking involved. You leave partly urbanized Syafrubesi behind and cross the Kerung River on a suspension bridge and enter the trekking trail. After a while you’ll join Langtang river on your right side flowing down from the Langtang valley which joins with Kerung river a little in front of the trail in Syafrubesi, which then goes on to join Gosaikunda river in Dhunche (Headquarters of Rusuwa) , flowing down from Trishuldhara Gosaikunda to form one of the major river of Nepal and major component of Gandaki River system , the Trishuli River. The first half an hour or so of trekking is fairly easy, a gentle walk. The first sight of houses/shop or village is represented by a small place called Domen, where you cross another bridge, from here onwards the trail goes uphill. The next stop after Domen is Pairo (Landslide in English). Pairo is a small pit stop the place is named after a massive landside, which you can observe on your left side as you walk up hill. The trial continues uphill and downhill for some time after an hour or so you reach Bamboo, another stop where you can have the morning meal. Again as you leave Bamboo behind, you take an uphill route for some time and then reach another suspension bridge and also the toughest part of all the places in the route, a crazy uphill challenge of Rimche Dada (hill). It not really that hard but for most people it turns out to be painful, but as soon as you excel over Rimche dada, you’ll walk downhill for about 20 minutes and reach Lama hotel, where you will be taking rest for the day. There are enough hotels in Lama Hotel to stay. Anyone who can walk fast can move ahead, because you can reach Lama hotel within 5-6 hours into the journey, and if you are confident and can walk fast then you can take the next stop which will make your next day easier. But for average walker, the stop for the 2nd day will be Lama hotel. And lama hotel is the last place where you’ll get Ncell network coverage, after that, you can switch off your NTC and Ncell phones.

Day 3rd [Lama Hotel - Langtang Valley][11-12 KM around][5-7 Hours of Hiking]

The third day of the trek starts at Lama hotel, after a quick breakfast, talking about which, if you’re in a group it would be better to get a Thermos of tea which will cost you lesser than a cup, and if you’re few in number then a cup would be better for you. The trek continues with gentle uphill downhill combination, after walking for a while, you’ll reach Riverside, with few houses right on Langtang river basin, hence named Riverside. After riverside the next stop is Ghodatabela (Horse stable) which is few hours away depending upon your walking speed. After Ghodatabela the trail is pretty easy. In an hour or so you reach Thyangsyap where you can have your morning meal. You’ll see Langtang Village from Thyangsyap, but the walk is pretty long from there, you will pass by few villages and teahouses/hotels on the way, then pass Gumba village and finally reach Langtang Valley, where you will be staying for the day. Langtang valley has plenty of hotels and also electricity facilities, but no phone networks except sky phone!

Day 4th [Langtang-Kyajin][2-3 Hours Hiking]

The fourth day into the trek will lead you to a village some 2 hours away from Langtang, the village of Kyanjin, one of the most beautiful places you can be on. The trail is gently uphill and uphill at times. You’ll reach Kyanjin in 2 hours or so, and then you’ll be resting in kyanjin for the day. While you’re in Kyanjin you can visit, Kyanjin Gompa, Airport and other places. You’ll spend the night in kyanjin. The numbers of hotels in Kyanjin is as similar to the hotels in Langtang.

Day 5th [Kyanjin - Kynajin ri] [2 Hours of Hiking]

Early in the morning you’ll be climbing to Kyanjin ri, a small peak right in front of Kyanjin village, the peak of kyanjin ri is almost 4800 meters and the view from up there is spectacular! It takes not more than 2 hours to reach the peak. You’ll return back to Kyanjin and either spend the night there or walk back to Langtang depending upon your interest.

Day 6th [Kyanjin-Lama Hotel][4-5 hours of Hiking]

If you want to see more of Langtang valley or Kyanjin then you can stay back and enjoy it, climb Tserko ri or other peaks, but if you decide to return back to langtang on the 5th day then you can walk back to Syafrubesi in a single day, or if you can’t then walk to lama hotel on 6th day and then walk to Syafubesi on 7th. But the downhill is fairly easy and could be completed in a single day.

Day 7th

Return back to Kathmandu or if you’re fit and fine and want to trek more then you can go to Gosaikunda trekking from Syafrubesi or directly from Lama hotel.

The trek involves intensive walking, though not that hard but the distance is considerably long for short period of time, so it’s highly recommended to take medicinal kits, spray etc with you. And if by any chance anything does happen, Horses can be hired to bring you back to Syafrubesi.

Wildlife Watch Opportunities while Trekking in Langtang

More than 100 species of Birds are recorded from Langtang and also consider as best birds watching in Nepal.

The Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) can be found right above Langtang village early in the morning.

Troops of Himalayan Langur (Semnopithecu entellus) can be found around Bamboo and base of Rimche Dada around the Suspension bridge and slightly above.

Also troops of Assam Macaque ( Macaca assamensis ) can be found around Bamboo area.

Pika, a small tailless rodent cant be found from Ghodatabela ta to Langtang valley, along with Squirrels.

Barking Deer, (Muntiacus muntjak ) can be found around Ghodatabela

The elusive Red panda can be found, rarely, around Rimche and its peripheri.

The Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) is common around Langtang Valley.

Plus numerous other wildlife can be found in Langtang valley